Introduction

Regulations were signed into law on Monday 22nd October, 2001 by the Minister for Finance providing for the extension of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 to Mary Immaculate College. Requests already received will be treated as valid from this date.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act establishes three new statutory rights: A right for each person to access information held by public bodies; A right for each person to have official information relating to him/herself amended where it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading; A right to obtain reasons for decisions affecting her/himself.

These rights are supported by an internal review and an external appeal procedure (Office of the Information Commissioner). The following records come within the scope of the Act:

All records held by the College which were created after the commencement date of the Act, i.e. 21st April 1998.

Personnel records of staff created since 21st April 1995 or earlier if it is being used adversely against a staff member.

All records relating to personal information held by the College irrespective of when created. Personal information is defined as information that would ordinarily be known only to the individual or their family or friends, or information given to the College on the understanding that it would be treated as confidential.

The purpose of the act is to ensure that publicly funded organisations are accountable to the general community. The following pages are intended to advise you of preparations made by Mary Immaculate College for the implementation of this act which will not only affect academic and administrative areas within the College but also those who are under a contract for services to the College.

The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003 came in to force on 11 April 2003. This Act introduced a number of important amendments to the 1997 Act. A copy of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003 can be accessed at www.foi.gov.ie

The Freedom of Information Act 2014, was signed by the President on Tuesday, 14th October 2014, and became effective on that day, subject to certain commencement dates for the specific provisions set out in section 1 of the Act.

Please be aware that the transitional provisions in section 55 of the 2014 Act provide that any action commenced under the 1997 Act but not completed before the commencement of the 2014 Act shall continue to be performed and shall be completed as if the 1997 Act had not been repealed. This means that if an FOI request was made before 14 October 2014, any subsequent review application (up to and including appeals to the Courts) will have to be dealt with under the 1997 Act.